Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of BonnGermany
Prof. Waldemar Kolanus leads the Molecular Immunology and Cell Biology department at the University of Bonn's Life & Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES) . His research bridges immunoregulation , stem cell dynamics , and metabolic stress responses in immune cells. Unit 2 member at LIMES Principal investigator in SFB 704 and ImmunoSensation Cluster Leads a multidisciplinary lab with postdocs, PhD students, and technical staff His work focuses on intracellular signaling pathways connecting immune activation to tissue homeostasis, particularly through: Cytohesin proteins in integrin-mediated adhesion and migration TRIM71 in stem cell regulation and congenital hydrocephalus High-salt environments affecting macrophage function Publication trends show expertise in immune cell migration , genetic models , and chemical inhibition , with frequent use of mice and zebrafish for in vivo studies. Key articles explore: TRIM71's dual role in auditory development and germ cell maintenance Cytohesin family's Golgi regulation and insulin signaling Ruxolitinib's off-target migration inhibition of dendritic cells Contact details: Address: LIMES Institute, Carl-Troll-Straße 31, Bonn Email: kolanus.sekretariat@uni-bonn.de Phone: +49 228 73-62788
Prof. Veronika Somoza is a leading academic in Nutritional Systems Biology, currently affiliated with the University of Vienna and Technical University of Munich (TUM). She holds a professorship in Molecular Food Science and has led key research groups such as the Institute of Physiological Chemistry and the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Bioactive Aromatics. Her career includes roles at institutions like the German Research Institute for Food Chemistry (Garching) and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Education: Diplom (Justus Liebig University Giessen, 1991), PhD (University of Vienna, 1995), Habilitation (Kiel University, 2002) Research Focus: Bioactive food compounds, flavor chemistry, taste receptor signaling, and gastrointestinal physiology Her work bridges food science and human health, particularly in understanding how food ingredients influence digestion, inflammation, and disease. Notable contributions include discoveries on bitter peptide effects on gastric acid secretion and flavor perception modulation. Awards: FEMA Excellence in Flavor Science (2016), ACS AGFD Fellow (2020), Hans Adolf Krebs Prize (2004) Prof. Somoza has pioneered methodologies in atomic force microscopy for foodborne virus detection and developed bitterness-masking compounds for pharmaceuticals. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates nanobiophysics with nutrition to advance functional food design and clinical applications.
Prof. Dr. Markus Meissner is a Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, leading the Chair of Experimental Parasitology. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of host cell invasion and modulation by Apicomplexan parasites, particularly Toxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium species. Research Group: Meissner Laboratory Location: Lena-Christ-Str. 48, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried Contact: markus.meissner@lmu.de His work investigates the secretory pathway of parasites, vesicular trafficking systems, and essential genes involved in host cell invasion and intracellular development. Toxoplasma gondii serves as a model organism for studying Apicomplexan biology, including nuclear division and CRMP complex functionality. Recent publications highlight the role of Rab GTPases in protein trafficking, chromatin remodeling in Plasmodium, and actin dynamics in parasite motility. Articles span topics such as egress factors, Golgi pathways, and lineage-specific organelle emergence, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular biology, cell biology, and evolutionary analysis. The Meissner Lab includes PhD students (Peipei Qin, Yuan Song, Ella Schadt, Vitoria Catschor dos Santos) and postdocs (Dr. Wei Li, Dr. Miriam Rafajlovic). Research is conducted in Lena-Christ-Str. 48, Planegg-Martinsried, with a focus on experimental systems for studying parasite mechanisms.
Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant PhysiologyGermany
Prof. Dr. Ralph Bock serves as Director of Department 3: Organelle Biology, Biotechnology and Molecular Ecophysiology at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Potsdam, Germany, where he also leads the Organelle Biology and Biotechnology research group. Previously, he held positions as C4 Professor for Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology at the University of Münster (2001-2004) and Group Leader at the Institute of Biology III, University of Freiburg (1996-2001). His academic credentials include: Habilitation: University of Freiburg, 1999 Doctorate: University of Freiburg, 1996 Diploma: University of Halle, 1993 Prof. Bock's research focuses on plant molecular biology with particular emphasis on chloroplast biology, organelle biotechnology, and molecular ecophysiology. His work spans genetic engineering of plastids, photosynthesis research, plant biotechnology applications, and understanding organelle-nucleus communication. He has made significant contributions to developing chloroplast transformation systems and applying them to molecular farming, metabolic engineering, and understanding fundamental processes in plant cell biology. His research has important implications for sustainable agriculture, bioenergy, and pharmaceutical production, particularly through the development of plant-based systems for producing vaccines and therapeutic proteins. Analysis of Prof. Bock's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on chloroplast biology, genetic engineering, and molecular farming applications. His work spans fundamental research on organelle genetics, photosynthesis, and stress responses, as well as applied research on using plant and algal systems for biopharmaceutical production. A notable trend is the increasing use of advanced genetic engineering techniques, including CRISPR-based approaches, to manipulate organelle genomes. His research also shows growing interest in algal systems as alternative expression platforms for molecular farming, particularly red algae like Porphyridium for producing viral antigens and glycoproteins.
Max Planck Institute for the History of ScienceGermany
Prof. Dr. Petra Schwille is a Director at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry and former C4 Professor of Biophysics at Dresden University of Technology . Her work spans molecular and cellular biophysics, synthetic biology, and single-molecule techniques. Academic disciplines: Natural sciences, biological sciences, physical sciences Key roles: Editorial Board member (Nature Methods, Biophysical Journal), Governing Council of Biophysical Society Research Focus includes membrane biophysics, protein interactions, and microfluidic systems. Her publications emphasize Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) , receptor-ligand dynamics, and self-organization in bacterial cell division. Developed in vitro models for spatial regulation in cells Explored calmodulin availability and morphogen gradient formation Scientific Recognition includes prestigious awards like the Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2010) and the Biofuture grant (1998) . Max Planck Fellow (2005) Young Investigator Award (2003) Leadership & Service involves roles such as Dean of Studies for Nanobiophysics at TU Dresden and Vice Dean of the Dresden International Graduate School for Biomedicine and Bioengineering (DIGS-BB) . She also contributes to editorial and advisory boards in biophysics and science policy.
Prof. Dr. Nils Kröger serves as Chair for "Biomimetic Materials" at the Technical University of Dresden, Germany, where he leads the Kröger Group dedicated to studying diatoms and their remarkable biological capabilities. His research program investigates two extraordinary phenomena exhibited by these microalgae: silica biomineralization and underwater adhesion. Academic Background: Diploma in Chemistry, University of Regensburg, Germany (1991) PhD in Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Germany (1995) Habilitation in Biochemistry, University of Regensburg, Germany (2001) Assistant Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA (2005) Associate Professor, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA (2011) W3 Professor for Biomimetic Materials, TU Dresden, Germany (2012) Professor Kröger's research sits at the intersection of biology, materials science, and nanotechnology. His group employs biochemical, molecular genetic, and cell biological approaches to unravel how diatoms construct intricate silica structures and adhere to surfaces underwater. This work has significant implications for developing novel bio-inspired materials and understanding fundamental biological processes. Recent advancements in his laboratory have revealed molecular mechanisms behind diatom motility and the precise control of silica pattern formation. Analysis of Professor Kröger's publication record shows consistent focus on diatom biology with increasing interdisciplinary collaboration. His recent work demonstrates sophisticated integration of physics, engineering, and biology to understand the mechanical aspects of diatom movement and structure formation. The research shows progression from basic protein characterization to complex systems-level understanding of diatom motility and morphogenesis. Current Research Funding: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG): PoL Nucleation grant with Prof. Stefan Diez (2022-2025) - Acto-myosin cooperativity and regulation underlying diatom gliding motility Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) (2018-2022) - Molecular basis of diatom adhesion and motility Previous funding from Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) (2010-2016) - Molecular Mechanism of Diatom Adhesion Professor Kröger actively mentors PhD students and maintains a vibrant research group comprising senior scientists, postdoctoral researchers, technicians, and graduate students. His laboratory serves as a hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, bridging traditional boundaries between biology, chemistry, physics, and materials science. The group maintains strong international connections and participates in numerous collaborative research initiatives focused on biomineralization and bio-inspired materials.
Prof. Dr. Christian Mayer is a Professor in Physical Chemistry at the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Duisburg-Essen. He serves as Head of the working group focusing on origin of life research, nanocapsules, and NMR spectroscopy techniques. His research group is located at Universitätsstraße 5, D-45141 Essen, Germany, with contact information including phone number +49 201 183-2570. Prof. Mayer's research interests primarily focus on the origin of life in deep tectonic fault zones of the first continental fragments, where he collaborates with Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schreiber from the Faculty of Biology and Prof. Dr. Oliver Schmitz from Applied Analytical Chemistry. His work investigates how vesicle formation occurs in tectonic fault systems through cyclic phase transitions of carbon dioxide, creating ideal conditions for molecular evolution. He specializes in pulsed field gradient NMR (PFG-NMR), high-resolution NMR, and solid-state NMR techniques to characterize nanoscale systems including nanocapsules, vesicles, and microemulsions. His recent publication trends reveal a strong interdisciplinary focus spanning physical chemistry, prebiotic chemistry, and astrobiology. The articles demonstrate increasing integration of computational methods with experimental approaches, particularly in analyzing molecular structures and dynamics. His research has evolved from fundamental studies of nanocapsule systems to broader investigations of protocell formation mechanisms under early Earth conditions, with recent work extending to astrobiological contexts including potential life formation on Titan. Prof. Mayer has established significant collaborations across multiple disciplines, particularly with geologists and biologists, to investigate the physical chemical processes that could have led to the emergence of life. His work bridges fundamental physical chemistry with practical applications in nanomedicine, particularly in developing artificial oxygen carriers based on nanocapsule technology. His laboratory utilizes high-pressure facilities to simulate early Earth crust conditions, with a particular focus on supercritical CO 2 environments. The working group combines experimental approaches with theoretical modeling to understand vesicle formation processes and their implications for the origin of cellular life.
Hartmut Michel is a Scientific Member and Director at the Max Planck Institute of Biophysics in Frankfurt, Germany, where he leads the Department of Molecular Membrane Biology. He has held this position since 1987 and has also served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Frankfurt since 1989. Michel received his PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Wuerzburg in 1977 and completed postdoctoral work there before joining the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry as a research associate. Michel's research focuses on membrane proteins, particularly in the areas of structural biology, biochemistry, photosynthesis, and respiratory complexes. His work has centered on understanding the structure and function of membrane proteins, especially cytochrome c oxidase and photosynthetic reaction centers. He pioneered techniques for membrane protein crystallization and has made significant contributions to understanding electron transfer processes and proton pumping mechanisms in respiratory enzymes. His publication record spans over four decades, with recent work focusing on cryo-EM structural analysis of membrane proteins including cytochrome bd oxidases, ABC transporters, and photosynthetic complexes. The research demonstrates a consistent trajectory from fundamental structural studies toward understanding functional mechanisms and applications in areas like antibiotic development and bioenergetics. Scientific Awards 1986 Leibniz Prize of the German Research Foundation 1988 Otto Bayer Prize (with Johann Deisenhofer) 1988 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (with Johann Deisenhofer and Robert Huber) 2008 Keilin Medal of the British Biochemical Society Honorary doctorates from the Universities of Wuerzburg and Bologna Michel has maintained an active research program with numerous collaborations across Europe and internationally. His laboratory has developed innovative approaches for membrane protein expression, purification, and structural characterization. The team has made significant contributions to understanding the structure-function relationships in respiratory chain components and photosynthetic apparatus. His department at the Max Planck Institute serves as a leading center for membrane protein research, with specialized facilities for protein crystallization, cryo-electron microscopy, and functional characterization of membrane proteins. The research has implications for understanding fundamental biological energy conversion processes and developing new therapeutic approaches targeting membrane proteins.
Brenda Schulman is a Professor and Director of the Molecular Machines and Signaling Pathways department at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried, Germany. She also holds an honorary professorship at the Technical University of Munich's Department of Chemistry and serves as Adjunct Faculty at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, USA. Her research focuses on understanding how ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins regulate cellular processes through protein modification. Dr. Schulman's research interests center on structural biology of the ubiquitin-proteasome system and ubiquitin-like proteins. Her work has shown that hundreds of dynamic multiprotein complexes are transiently converted into different conformations by specialized regulatory factors that control ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins, thereby monitoring virtually all processes in cell biology. She combines biochemical reconstitution, structural analysis, enzymology, protein design, cell biology, and genetics to understand how these molecular machines function. Her research has significant implications for understanding diseases such as cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and viral infections where defects in ubiquitin pathways are implicated. Her extensive publication record demonstrates expertise in ubiquitin signaling, protein degradation mechanisms, structural biology of E3 ligases, and molecular machines. Her work spans from fundamental mechanisms of ubiquitin chain formation to therapeutic applications in targeted protein degradation. Among her numerous scientific accolades are the Feldberg Prize for Anglo-German Scientific Exchange (2025), ERC Advanced Grant (2023), Louis-Jeantet Prize for Medicine (2023), Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize (2019), and election to the National Academy of Sciences (2014). She has also received the Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Award from The Protein Society and has been an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. Dr. Schulman leads an active research group that has produced numerous high-impact publications in top journals including Nature, Cell, and Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. Her team has made significant contributions to understanding the structural mechanisms of ubiquitin transfer, E3 ligase specificity, and the role of ubiquitin in cellular quality control pathways. Current research in her lab focuses on deciphering the ubiquitin code and developing novel approaches for targeted protein degradation.
Dr. Maja Matis is a Group Leader at the University of Muenster's Center for Molecular Biology of Inflammation (ZMBE) within the Institute of Cell Biology. Her research focuses on understanding the mechanical role of microtubules in tissue morphogenesis, particularly how microtubule-generated forces contribute to tissue remodeling through coordinated cellular behaviors. She leads the Matis Lab, which employs advanced microscopy techniques and genetic approaches to study cytoskeletal mechanics in developmental contexts. Key research areas include the structural regulation of microtubules, mechanics-driven cell shape changes, and integration of forces at adherens junctions. Her interdisciplinary projects combine biophysics, developmental biology, and quantitative imaging to unravel mechanisms underlying collective cell behavior during tissue formation. Notable contributions include studies on microtubule compression dynamics in epithelial tissues and the role of PCP signaling in patterning microtubule networks. She collaborates with institutions like the Cells in Motion Cluster of Excellence and has mentored multiple PhD/MD students. Her work is published in high-impact journals such as Nat. Commun. and Nat. Cell Biol.
Prof. Dr. Jörg Schultz serves as a Professor for Bioinformatics at the Faculty of Biology, University of Würzburg, a position he has held since 2003. He is also a Group Leader at the Center for Computational and Theoretical Biology (CCTB) and was a member of the CCTB Managing Board from 2015-2019. His academic journey includes significant roles as Group Leader at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics in Berlin (2002-2003) and at cellzome in Heidelberg (2000-2002). He completed his PhD studies at EMBL Heidelberg (1996-2000) after conducting his diploma thesis there in 1995-1996, following biology studies at the University of Konstanz (1991-1996). Prof. Schultz's research spans bioinformatics, computational biology, and evolutionary genomics, with notable contributions to protein domain analysis, phylogenetics, and structural bioinformatics. His recent work has focused extensively on plant genomics, particularly studying carnivorous plants like the Venus flytrap to uncover the evolutionary roots of plant carnivory. His research integrates computational methods with biological questions to address fundamental evolutionary patterns and molecular mechanisms across diverse organisms. Prof. Schultz has maintained a prolific publication record since the late 1990s, with his most recent work demonstrating continued innovation in computational approaches to biological questions. His publications reveal a consistent trajectory from foundational work on protein domain evolution (including the development of the SMART database) to current research on plant genomics, molecular evolution, and bioinformatics tool development. His work shows particular strength in bridging computational methodology with biological insight across multiple domains. Among his significant contributions is the development of the ITS2 Database, a widely used resource for phylogenetic analyses, along with various computational tools including ALVIS for sequence alignment visualization, reper for repetitive element analysis, and BCdatabaser for DNA barcoding. These resources have advanced methodological capabilities in the bioinformatics community. As an academic mentor, Prof. Schultz has guided numerous students and researchers through his laboratory at the University of Würzburg, contributing significantly to the education and training of the next generation of bioinformaticians. His leadership roles demonstrate his commitment to advancing computational and theoretical biology as academic disciplines while maintaining strong connections between computational approaches and biological discovery.
Prof. Dr. Karin Schumacher is a Professor of Plant Developmental Biology at Heidelberg University and currently serves as Vice-Rector for Quality Development and Sustainability. Her research focuses on plant cell biology, particularly vacuole dynamics, ion homeostasis, and membrane trafficking in Arabidopsis. She leads the Cell Biology Research Group at the Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) and has held leadership roles such as Dean of the Faculty of Biosciences. Her work integrates computational modeling with experimental approaches to study plant growth and stress responses. Dr. Schumacher's academic career includes a Doctorate from the University of Cologne and a Habilitation from the University of Tübingen. She has held professorial positions since 2007 and contributed to advancements in understanding plant membrane systems, including V-ATPase function and calcium signaling. Her research publications emphasize vacuolar ion transport, autophagy mechanisms, and plant stress physiology. Her administrative roles include enhancing early career researcher support and promoting sustainability in university operations. She is an active member of scientific societies like the German Botanical Society and serves on editorial boards such as Plant Cell . Her interdisciplinary work bridges cell biology, molecular genetics, and systems-level plant physiology.
Matthias Feige is an Associate Professor of Cellular Protein Biochemistry at the Technical University of Munich (TUM). He leads the Focus Group for Cellular Protein Biochemistry, previously serving as a Rudolf Mößbauer Tenure Track Assistant Professor. His research focuses on understanding cellular proteome integrity, particularly in the secretory pathway, combining protein biochemistry and cell biology. Key interests include protein folding, quality control mechanisms, and their biomedical applications. Education & Career: PhD in Biochemistry (2009), TUM under Johannes Buchner Postdoctoral Fellowship at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (Memphis, USA) with Linda Hendershot Head of the Cellular Protein Biochemistry Lab at TUM since 2015 Research Interests: Feige’s work explores molecular mechanisms governing protein biogenesis, secretory pathway proteins, and their roles in immunity. His interdisciplinary approach targets fundamental biology and translational applications like protein engineering and therapy development. Scientific Contributions: His publications highlight advancements in cytokine assembly, ER quality control, and protein aggregation mechanisms. Notable recent work includes studies on KDELR3 signaling, helminth immune modulation, and engineered cytokines. Awards & Recognition: Leopoldina Fellowship (2011–2014) Fellow of the Daimler and Benz Foundation (2016) Rainer Rudolph Award (2012) Multiple honors from TUM and international institutions Labs & Teams: He directs a lab investigating protein biogenesis and proteostasis. Collaborations span biochemistry, immunology, and structural biology, with a focus on translational research.
Rainer Böckmann is a Professor of Computational Biology in the Department of Biology at Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Germany, where he leads the Group for Theoretical and Computational Membrane Biophysics. His research integrates molecular dynamics simulations with biophysical analysis to study membrane structure, dynamics, and function. Research Interests: His work focuses on computational biophysics, particularly lipid bilayers, membrane proteins, molecular dynamics, and structural bioinformatics. He investigates how lipid composition, cholesterol, and embedded peptides influence membrane organization, curvature, and permeability, with applications in antimicrobial strategies and mRNA vaccine delivery systems. Recent Research Trends: His recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), particularly their phase behavior, pH-dependent protonation, and structural transitions relevant to mRNA vaccines. He also explores antimicrobial peptides, membrane domain formation, and the role of cholesterol in modulating membrane properties. His group develops and applies advanced simulation techniques, including constant-pH MD and coarse-grained modeling. Member of Editorial Board, Biophysical Journal (2024–present) Elected Member, DFG Review Board for Biophysics (2020–present) Chairman, Molecular Biophysics Section, German Biophysical Society (2011–2012) Leadership and Service: Böckmann is actively involved in academic governance, serving on editorial boards, DFG committees, and as a guest editor for special issues in Frontiers journals. He contributes to graduate education and high-performance computing initiatives at FAU, including the NHR@FAU and Life@FAU Graduate School. He has organized major conferences and workshops in biophysics and membrane modeling. Laboratory and Collaboration: He leads a research group focused on biomembrane physics, collaborating with experimentalists and theorists. His lab develops and applies simulation tools to study membrane systems, bridging computational insights with biological function.
Prof. Dr. Kirsten Jung is a faculty member at the Department of Microbiology , Faculty of Biology , Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich . Her research focuses on bacterial signal transduction, stress response mechanisms, and systems biology approaches to understand microbial regulatory networks. Key research areas include stress-dependent gene expression in bacterial populations Structural and functional analysis of membrane-integrated receptors Metabolism-based chemical communication in bacteria Integration of experimental and computational systems biology Recent publications highlight her lab's work on Escherichia coli epitranscriptomic modifications under heat stress, m 5 C rRNA dynamics, and the role of RNA methylation in host-pathogen interactions. Collaborative studies address bacterial acid stress responses and their implications for antibiotic tolerance. Her interdisciplinary work bridges microbiology with ecological studies, as evidenced by research on biodiversity conservation in forest and urban ecosystems. Publications also demonstrate expertise in advanced imaging techniques (e.g., arterial spin labeling for glioma analysis) and bioinformatics approaches. Current advisees include Gloria Gessinger and Tania P. Gonzalez-Terrazas . She can be contacted at jung@lmu.de .
